The document is organized into four parts: the Introduction; Achievements and Obstacles in the Implementation of the 12 Critical Areas of the Platform for Action; Current Challenges Affecting the Full Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; and Actions and Initiatives to Overcome Obstacles and to Achieve the Full and Accelerated Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. (See documents A/S-23/2/Addendum 2 (Parts I-IV) and Corr.1 to Part IV, as amended by documents A/S-23/AC.1/L.1/Adds.1 to 42 and Corr.1 to Add.16)
In its assessment of the gains made and the obstacles encountered in achieving objectives in 12 areas critical to women’s advancement as identified in the 1995 Platform for Action, the outcome document notes that even though there were significant positive developments, barriers remained to a full implementation of the goals and commitments made in Beijing.
The 12 critical areas identified in the Beijing Platform are: women and poverty, education, health, violence, armed conflict, the economy, power and decision-making, human rights, the environment, the media, the girl child, and institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women.
The document states that, although there was increased recognition of the gender dimensions of poverty, there was a widening economic inequality between men and women. In response, governments are called upon to incorporate a gender perspective into the design, development, adoption and execution of all budgetary processes and undertake socio-economic policies promoting sustainable development and ensuring poverty eradication programmes specially formulated for women.
The document notes that, while globalization has brought greater economic opportunities and autonomy to some women, it has further marginalized others. While there has been increased participation of women in the labour market, many women still work in rural areas and the informal economy as subsistence producers and in the service sector with low levels of income and job security. In that light, governments agreed to create and ensure equal access to social protection systems and to provide safeguards against the uncertainties and changes in work conditions associated with globalization and strive to ensure that new, flexible and emerging forms of work are adequately covered by social protection.
To address the challenges of globalization, they agreed to take effective measures, including through the enhanced and effective participation of developing countries in the international economic policy decision-making process, in order to guarantee the equal participation of women, in particular those from the developing countries, in the process of macroeconomic decision-making.
It was agreed that measures would be taken at the national and international levels, to avoid any unilateral measures, not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, that impedes the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries and take measures to alleviate the negative impact of economic sanctions on women and children. Governments should take steps to review and implement macroeconomic and social policies and programmes through, among other things, the analysis of a gender perspective of structural adjustment programmes,
Advances had also been made in the growing acceptance of the importance to society of the full participation of women in decision-making and power at all levels. Despite that acceptance, though, a gap between de jure and de facto equality persisted. The document calls for the creation of favourable conditions to encourage the entry of women into politics through such means as their nomination through political parties, quotas or other appropriate means for election to parliaments and other legislative structures, to increase their share and contribution in the formulation of public policy.
At the international level, it was agreed to ensure and support the participation of women in development activities and peace processes, including conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict reconstruction, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building, and to support the involvement of women’s organizations and community-based organizations. Women should also be included as special envoys and special representatives of the Secretary-General in those matters.
Among the goals set by the text in terms of women’s education is the time- bound target of the year 2015 set for a 50 per cent improvement in adult literacy, as well as ensuring free compulsory primary education for both girls and boys. Also, governments agreed to develop gender-sensitive curricula to address gender stereotyping as one of the root causes of segregation in working life.
After accepting that violence against women and girls, whether occurring in public or private, constituted a human rights violation, governments agreed, as a matter of priority, to review, where appropriate, and introduce effective legislation on violence against women and to take other necessary measures to ensure that all women and girls are protected and have recourse to justice. They also decided to treat all forms of violence against women and girls of all ages as a criminal offence punishable by law.
They further agreed to develop and fully implement laws and such other measures as policies and educational programmes to eradicate harmful customary or traditional practices, including female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage and so-called honour crimes. There was also agreement to work towards the elimination of such other forms of violence against women as commercial sexual exploitation, as well as economic exploitation, including, among other things, trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour or passion, racially motivated crimes, abduction and sale of children, and dowry-related violence and deaths.
Governments agreed to establish or strengthen legislation to handle all forms of domestic violence, including marital rape and sexual abuse of women and girls.
Regarding women’s health, it was decided that the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality was a priority, and that women should have ready access to essential obstetric, post-partum and maternal care, as well as effective referral and transport to higher levels of care, when necessary. Priority attention should be given to prevention, detection and treatment of breast, cervical and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, as well as prevention of unwanted pregnancies and the health impact of unsafe abortion. Every attempt should be made to eliminate the need for abortion. Also, universal and equal access for women and men throughout their lives to social services related to health care, including education, clean water and safe sanitation, nutrition, food security and health education programmes should be ensured.